A Wizard in the Way

Rating:
Summary: Light, funny, good Tao twist
Review: Christopher Stasheff writes a good light fantasy and the Wizard series (a sequel to the Warlock series with one of Galoglass's sons) is prime Stasheff.

In this novel Gar Pike, with his sidekick Area, land on a planet where psychic magicians rule the serfs with terror and magic. Gar resolves to teach Tao (The Way from the title) to encourage the serfs to try to better themselves. Initially frustrated by the serf's extreme fear, Gar continues the battle.

I would have liked to see more a more direct relationship between Gar's Tao teachings and the rebellion he eventually leads. I think Stasheff missed an opportunity to make this fine book stand out as a unique novel here. Also, Stasheff has avoided the easy happy-ever-after solution to the sexual tension between Gar and Alea. Is he getting close to a stagnant relationship, however?

Rating:
Summary: Great story!
Review: I have been a fan of Christopher Stasheff since the book "The Warlock In Spite of Himself". I loved the story line of this book, and the characters were likeable. The writing, in my opinion, was a little of the bland side for this author, and the characters could have used just a little bit more rounding out. I think the author did a decent job with this book despite the two minor short falls I mentioned above.

Rating:
Summary: Great story!
Review: I have been a fan of Christopher Stasheff since the book "The Warlock In Spite of Himself". I loved the story line of this book, and the characters were likeable. The writing, in my opinion, was a little of the bland side for this author, and the characters could have used just a little bit more rounding out. I think the author did a decent job with this book despite the two minor short falls I mentioned above.

Rating:
Summary: Is there an editor in the house?
Review: If you've read Stasheff before, you know what to expect. A pleasant mix of science fiction and fantasy, with some philosophy, political science, and religion thrown in. Stasheff has been amazingly productive this year, publishing something like four books in six months. I would say that this is a wonderful thing, since I love his books and always look forward to reading the next installments in all his series, except for one thing...

There were some strange little mistakes the kept cropping up. To tell the truth, they appear to be more in the nature of poor editting than hurried writing. A character would say something, and the other would answer with a phrase that almost fit, but not quite...or the second character would echo the first character, with an extra set of quotes and all, except the first character never said that exact word. It seems like an overzealous editor changed part of a conversation without making sure to keep all the dialogue consistent.

If you're holding your breath waiting for Magnus and Alea to resolve things...breathe. You'll have to wait for at least one more book. A new friend has joined them, and the world they are visiting bears a striking resemblance to Magnus' home planet in many respects...local life forms interracting with human psi-powers, large numbers of local espers.... They use the Tao to help the planet overthrow their cruel overlords.

The story was fun, and I definately can't wait for the next adventure (not the least because I'm waiting for Alea and Magnus to resolve all this sexual tension...), but I was surprised and disappointed to see the strange little inconsistencies in the writing...such things jar me out of the story and ruin my ability to immerse myself completely in Stasheff's wonderful stories.

Rating:
Summary: Is there an editor in the house?
Review: If you've read Stasheff before, you know what to expect. A pleasant mix of science fiction and fantasy, with some philosophy, political science, and religion thrown in. Stasheff has been amazingly productive this year, publishing something like four books in six months. I would say that this is a wonderful thing, since I love his books and always look forward to reading the next installments in all his series, except for one thing...

There were some strange little mistakes the kept cropping up. To tell the truth, they appear to be more in the nature of poor editting than hurried writing. A character would say something, and the other would answer with a phrase that almost fit, but not quite...or the second character would echo the first character, with an extra set of quotes and all, except the first character never said that exact word. It seems like an overzealous editor changed part of a conversation without making sure to keep all the dialogue consistent.

If you're holding your breath waiting for Magnus and Alea to resolve things...breathe. You'll have to wait for at least one more book. A new friend has joined them, and the world they are visiting bears a striking resemblance to Magnus' home planet in many respects...local life forms interracting with human psi-powers, large numbers of local espers.... They use the Tao to help the planet overthrow their cruel overlords.

The story was fun, and I definately can't wait for the next adventure (not the least because I'm waiting for Alea and Magnus to resolve all this sexual tension...), but I was surprised and disappointed to see the strange little inconsistencies in the writing...such things jar me out of the story and ruin my ability to immerse myself completely in Stasheff's wonderful stories.

Rating:
Summary: The Cat is getting in the Way... slipping focus off center..
Review: Magnus D'Armand,AKA Gar Pike, is the son of Rodney D'Armand, the greatest agent SCENT has ever known. He has, or rather he will have with the aid of his family, changed a medieval society of telepaths into the strongest force for Democracy ever known. While Magnus was an aid to SCENT in the beginning, he soon realized that Democracy was not the answer for ALL cases... and with this point in mind he left SCENT under rather poor circumstances... this is Magnus' mission. To reform oppressive societies using that system which will most benefit the people of that planet.

This time Magnus arrives with not only his good friend and constant companion Alea, but an additional stowaway as well. He finds a planet that mirrors the developement of his homeworld in that they have empathic and projective telepathy that reacts to the environment of the planet producing... ghosts. He finds a feudal society that manages it's serfs through fear, and exists solely to grab the land of other lords. The power is either technology mastered through ritualized rote memorization, or low level psionic control of the ghosts. What to do? What is the Way?

This book sees control and creativity begin to seep away from Magnus and Alea, as their "silent partner" gives them subtle urgings throughout the campaign. Magnus fails to see his own manipulation, and that of his travelling companion.Their ideas come to them in dreams... hello? Magnus DID that trick! On the up side, Alea becomes more aware of her attraction to Magnus, while Magnus, always aware of his attraction to Alea, continues to sublimate his own desire. This is well done... realistically. Magnus is repressed, as well as deeply emotionally scarred. He can not easily overcome these scars, and it will take some time for Alea to get over her own scars enough so that she can help meet him halfway. I would like to see Magnus become aware of his stowaway and/or restore Alea's memories... both WELL within his awsome capabilities...

While I did not enjoy this story as much as the last, I did find it less formulaic than some in this series, and because of this it was still an enjoyable read. I will continue to devour anything Stasheff continues to spend some time on producing, and can only suggest that, if confused or dissatisfied by this work, one start earlier on in the series. Please take this as it was meant, a constructive critique by one who enjoys the Warlock series and the Rogue Wizard series... thank you for your time...

Rating:
Summary: A fun read as always
Review: THE WARLOCK IN SPITE OF HIMSELF is one of SCENT's more powerful agents. Rod Galloglass is dedicated to finding the lost colonies and bringing democracy to them. He is permanently assigned to the planet Gramarye, a medieval type of place with potent psychics. Rod's oldest son Magus is one of the most powerful psychics in the universe. Although he no longer works for SCENT, he and his companion Alea and their ship Herkimer roam the galaxy trying to save people from tyrants.

Herkimer picks up television signals from a lost planet of Old Earth. Magnus AKA Gar Pike and Alea learns the cities have deteriorated and a nasty feudal society exists. Most of the residents are mistreated serfs while the overlords are magicians who control the local ghosts (energy forces that acquire the memory of the dead) used to frighten the peasants. Gar and Alea with the help of some intrepid locals begins a revolution that brings the planet one step closer to democracy.

Christopher Stasheff has provided his fans with many pleasant novels that center on the exploits of Rod and his kin. The latest tale, A WIZARD IN THE WAY, is another entertaining combination of science fiction and fantasy in a universe where the mundane, magical, and technological live side by side. Anyone who relishes an action adventure tale set on a distant planet in a far away galaxy will want to read this book and its predecessors.

Harriet Klausner